Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-02

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The given map illustrates the layout of a college cafe prior to its redesign and its current structure.

Overall, it is evident that the structure of cafe has undergone substantial redevelopment. There has been an introduction of an outdoor seating and varied options for hot meals, salad bar, barbecue and take away food, while some old features have been modified- bin to recycling bins.

The layout of cafe before redesign, the northwest area of the college cafe was a kitchen, which was serving all types of food and drink. South to this was staff dining rooms with circular table and chairs.Toilets were just at the bottom of the map at southeast corner, and its north was facing the bin.

Currently, kitchen is at the same place but serving hot meals. There is an introduction of salad bar in the middle of the west side and barbecue just to the southwest corner. The seating area is transformed into new facilities, take away food and coffee bar, whereas there is an arrangement done in the south of the map where that area is preserved for outdoor seating. other features remained same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the cafe redesign well. You successfully identified the key changes, such as the introduction of the salad bar, barbecue, and outdoor seating, and noted the modifications to the kitchen and dining areas. The overview provides a clear summary of the transformation. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise. For instance, you mention 'other features remained same' without specifying what those were, which is a slight omission. Overall, the information is well-selected and the main trends are clearly highlighted for the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the 'before' and 'after' states. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices like 'whereas' and 'while', though the flow could be improved with more varied linking words. Some referencing is slightly mechanical, such as 'South to this' or 'its north was facing'. Improving the use of cohesive devices to link sentences more fluidly would enhance the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'substantial redevelopment', 'transformed', and 'preserved'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'bin to recycling bins' (which is slightly awkward) and 'arrangement done in the south'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of descriptive verbs and nouns related to spatial changes would help elevate your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with article usage (e.g., 'structure of cafe', 'introduction of an outdoor seating', 'kitchen is at the same place'). Additionally, some sentences are slightly fragmented or lack necessary prepositions. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent article usage and ensuring subject-verb agreement will significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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